02 September 2004	Thursday	16 Rajab 1425

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KARACHI, Sept 1: The Pakistan People's Party on Wednesday claimed that two people who were taking pictures of the seaside residence (Bilawal House) of the Bhuttos "in a suspicious manner" were apprehended and handed over to police, but they were allegedly allowed to go free.

This was stated in a news conference at the Bilawal House by Syed Qaim Ali Shah, Senator Farooq Naek and Agha Siraj Durrani. Syed Qaim Ali Shah said that Mohammad Aslam of Mastung and Umair Ansari had been apprehended by PPP activists, responsible for the security of Bilawal House, on August 28 while they were taking pictures of the residence and the adjoining ground used by Bilawal, son of Benazir Bhutto and Asif Ali Zardari, for horse-riding during his stay in the city.

He said that when the two were spotted taking pictures from an apartment across the road, they locked themselves in and erased the pictures. However, the PPP leader said that the suspects later admitted in writing that they had not realized that security around Bilawal House was so stringent.

He said that the PPP considered it a warning to the Bhutto family and part of a conspiracy against them and other party leaders especially at a time when the law and order situation was bad and there were apprehensions about target killings.

He pointed out that the PPP was especially concerned because both the brothers of Ms Bhutto, Murtaza and Shahnawaz, had been victims of targeted attacks. PPP leader Abdullah Murad and Munawwar Suhrawardy were eliminated in a similar manner.

Senator Farook Naek, who is also lawyer of Ms Bhutto and Asif Zardari, pointed out that the incident took place at a time when Bilawal and Asfa were in the town and staying in the house. He termed it an indirect threat to Ms Bhutto, a warning against her return to the country. He pointed out that life of Mr Zardari was also in danger.